Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i
Bulldogs Drop Close Contest To Hawai'i, 9-8
4/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - In the first game of the series Fresno State (21-19, 6-4) fell short by one run at 9-8 to the Hawai'i (25-13, 6-4) Rainbows Friday night at Pete Beiden Field. Hawai'i and Fresno State are now tied for second place with a 6-4 record in the WAC. The Bulldogs were led by shortstop Todd Sandell who went 3-for-5 with one home run, two singles and one RBI. Ozzie Lewis went 2-for-4 with one home run and one double.
The Rainbow's managed to get on the board first in the top of the second inning. Two runs scored when first baseman Kris Sanchez hit a two run homer to left center. Another run advanced home on a hit and an error at 3-0. The fourth run came in for Hawai'i on a sacrifice fly and fifth and final run came home on the second Bulldog error.
Fresno State answered with one run in the bottom of the second inning when Dan Grubb hit a sacrifice fly to left field brining in Alan Ahmady who singled earlier.
Inching their way back into the game the Bulldogs scored one run in the bottom of the fourth when designated hitter Ozzie Lewis hit his third home run of the season to left field at 5-2. The Bulldogs cut the lead to two at 5-3 when Todd Sandell hit his sixth home run of the season to left field.
Hawai'i added two runs in the top of the sixth inning on three doubles with both runs scoring from second at 7-3. The Warriors put another run on the board at 8-3 when Jonathan Hee doubled to center field bringing in Eli Christensen from first base. The last run came in on a Kris Sanchez single through the right side at 9-3.
In the bottom of the eighth inning the Bulldogs threatened to make a comeback scoring five runs. With the bases loaded Steve Susdorf dropped in a single to right field bringing in two runs at 9-5. Cutting the lead to three Ozzie Lewis doubled to right field capturing an RBI. Knocking off one more run Tom Mendonca brought in Susdorf. The last run came in on a pickle play scoring Ozzie Lewis from third base at 9-8.
The series will continue tomorrow when both teams begin play at 6:05 p.m. for the first pitch. Probable pitchers for tomorrow nights action feature Justin Wilson (4-4, 3.14) for the Bulldogs and Joshua Schneider (3-2, 2.37) for the Rainbows.
